Car stopped while driving, white smoke from left side of engine

Over the past couple of weeks the car at times wouldn't start. It would click a couple times, finally turning over. Today on my way home from work, I had been driving approximately 45 minutes and the car completely shut off on me. It wouldn't start. I opened the hood and smelled a burnt smell; kind of like an electric smell? I had someone come jump me. The car turned over then shut off. I turned it over again and this time I heard a knocking and white smoke came from the left side of the engine. I had it towed the rest of the way home. I'm fearing my engine took a crap on me and I still owe $8,000.00. Help!